2 men hurt in Palm Coast shootout

Monday

PALM COAST — A gun battle at the edge of a driveway in a Palm Coast neighborhood early Monday morning left two men seriously injured, authorities said.

Now Flagler County sheriff's investigators are trying to piece together what precipitated the apparent shootout, details of which remained murky Monday afternoon.

As Tristan George, 18, and Michael McRoberts Jr., 21, were being treated for their wounds at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, a swarm of detectives combed the scene at 28 Seamanship Trail. Investigators searched the house and found two guns believed used in the shooting, authorities said. No charges had been filed as of Monday night.

Meanwhile, deputies also are looking for Brooklynn Mariano, 20, of Fort Lauderdale, who they believe drove McRoberts to the hospital. She is being sought for questioning.

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly suspected the shooting stemmed from drug activity but stopped short of calling it drug-related during a morning news conference. But his suspicions were all but confirmed later in the day when deputies searched the home and found a half-pound of marijuana, adderall pills, scales and drug paraphernalia.

The shooting took place just after midnight Monday. According to reports, multiple gunshots were heard coming from in front of the home. Staly didn’t know exactly how many shots were fired but said there were “a lot.” Bullets hit the outside of the Seamanship Trail home and struck two vehicles parked in the driveway.

Investigators searched the house Monday morning and secured a gun. There were also prescription pills and marijuana in plain sight and investigators sought a narcotics warrant to search the rest of the house for drugs. They later found a second gun and the drugs inside the home as well, authorities said.

Both George and McRoberts remained hospitalized Monday with injuries that do not appear to be life threatening, authorities said.

George lived at the home on Seamanship Trail with his mother and a roommate, authorities said. George's mother, whose named was not released, was inside the house at the time of the shooting and was not injured. The roommate was not home.

Staly said narcotics detectives were putting together an investigation of the house before the shooting occurred after neighbors called as recently as two days ago to report suspicious activity there. Emergency dispatch records show there have been six reports at the address since Sept. 28, around the time authorities said George's family moved there. The service calls include a vehicular burglary report, a noise violation, and a Nov. 6 domestic dusturbance.

George was shot twice and paramedics rushed him to the trauma center at Halifax Health in Daytona Beach. It is believed that Marino drove McRoberts, who sustained one wound, to Florida Hospital Flagler in a Honda Accord, which authorities said has been recovered and impounded to be processed for evidence. She sped away from the hospital without providing information. Officials believe she now is driving in a 2013 Nissan Altima with Florida tag No. IISS74.

Marino is considered a person of interest and detectives are hoping she can shed light on circumstances surrounding the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 386-313-4911.

“We feel like she may have some of these missing pieces that we need for this investigation,” Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Brittany Kershaw said.

McRoberts was later airlifted to Halifax from Florida Hospital Flagler. The Palm Coast man had a warrant out for his arrest for violating probation, authorities said. Records show he was sentenced in April 2015 to 3½ years in prison on burglary charges. He was released from prison June 1, but was arrested in Flagler County again July 22 and charged with driving on a suspended license.

Staly said McRoberts gave deputies a false name, which delayed the investigation. Investigators had to wait until he had surgery to fingerprint him and use his prints to confirm his true identity.

Staly said George also was uncooperative during early stages of the investigation. Records show he was arrested March 4 and charged with marijuana possession and tampering with evidence. Both could possibly face attempted murder charges, Staly said, noting detectives are trying to figure out what led to the shooting before charges are filed.

“If you deal in the criminal underworld, this is a hazard of your occupation," Staly said. "So we believe that once we secure this other search warrant, we will get to the root of what caused this shooting today. I’m not ready to speculate on that, but I think the evidence will point us in the right direction.”

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